Wangcong Temple, Ancestral hall and mausoleum in Pidu District, China.
Wangcong Temple in Pidu District is a memorial shrine and mausoleum honouring the ancient Shu kings Wangdi Duyu and Congdi Bieling. Its red perimeter wall encloses a red screen wall about three metres high, inscribed with the temple's name by Dan Maoxin, flanked by symmetrical arched gates reading "Gong zai tian chou" and "De chui yi rang". Behind it stand a memorial hall with bronze statues of the two kings and their facing tombs: Wangdi's 15 metres high and 205 metres around, Congdi's conical, 10 metres high and 100 metres around.
The two emperors were first worshipped separately: Wangdi's shrine stood at the foot of Yulei Mountain, where Dujiangyan's Erwang Temple now is. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Yizhou governor Liu Jilian moved it to Pi County and merged it with Congdi's shrine. Rebuilt in 1052, destroyed at the end of the Ming, it was rebuilt in 1834 on 22 mu; the county magistrate Li Xin had the two tombs protected in 1747.
The temple honours Wangdi Duyu and Congdi Bieling, credited with founding the Shu state at Piyi and with early irrigation works. Legend says Duyu became a cuckoo that calls in spring to remind farmers to plant, so each year around the Dragon Boat Festival a memorial rite and the Wangcong singing contest are held here; the contest is listed as Sichuan intangible cultural heritage.
The site is easily accessible and provides informational signage to help visitors understand its historical importance and layout. Allow time for a leisurely walk through the different halls to fully appreciate the architectural details and spaces.
Wangcong Temple is the only imperial tomb in southwest China where two rulers are worshipped in one shrine. The two tombs face each other, one behind the other: Wangdi's is 15 m high with a 205 m perimeter, the largest and oldest imperial tomb in Sichuan, while Congdi's is conical, 10 m high and 100 m around.
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